icon-account icon-glass

Join the community!

We'll keep you up to date with interesting news, product information and offers so you never miss out.

No boring newsletters and we'll never share your address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Popular Products

The Lean Protein
Whey protein powder for weight-loss.
The Energy Booster
Pre/intra-workout powder with BCAAs.
The Glow Booster
Collagen supplement for skin.

Need To Update Your Winter Skincare Routine? Here's How

21st February 2023

21st February 2023

By Robyn Schaffer

As November rears its head, it’s probably time to accept that we’re well on our way into the depths of winter.

One of the effects of this change in season is that on our skin; in the winter, our skin is subject to the damage of the cold, snow, ice and rain, as well as the dryness of indoor heating. The result is that moisture is drawn out of the skin, leading to a number of other problems. Good that we've brought out our debut skincare product, The Glow Booster, to help you through... isn't it?

"The combination of moving from artificially heated environments into the cold air has a natural drying effect on the skin," says Amish Patel, an award-winning skin care expert and aesthetics practitioner. "When the air outside is dry and cold, the water in your skin is lost by evaporation more quickly. The result is that our skin is left feeling dry and tight."

But before we get into steps you can take to prevent these issues, let's dive into some of the science behind our skin.

The science behind our skin

The skin is the body’s largest organ and it acts as a protective barrier against the external environment. The outer layer is known as the stratum corneum (SC) and consists of a layer of cells surrounded by lipids (oils) like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

Our skin produces less of these oils in the winter months, making it more susceptible to dryness, something that’s also known as winter xerosis (roughness, itching, scaling and flaking).

Additionally, if you wash your hands frequently, this dryness becomes worse as you wash the natural oils and good bacteria from your skin that keep it healthy.

Dry skin tends to be more of a problem in older people because as you age, the skin becomes less able to hold moisture and the number of oil-producing sebaceous glands decreases. However, in the winter there are steps that people of all ages should be taking to ensure maximum protection against the elements. So, here's how to master your dry skin winter routine... 

Exfoliate and moisturise regularly

One of the most important steps that everyone should follow: exfoliate and moisturise. As we age, the process of cell regeneration slows down and so the body is slower to shed dead skin cells and produce new ones. As the old cells pile up, it can leave your skin looking dull, rough and dry, meaning you need to exfoliate. Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells on the skin’s surface, and in the winter these increase due to the cold weather drying out the skin on your face and body. If you don’t exfoliate, you can end up with excess oil, clogged pores, and even blemishes. There are a range of different types of exfoliators you can buy, including cleansing scrubs, exfoliating mitts, dry brushes, loofahs and pumice stones, and you should find out which skin type you have before choosing a product that best suits yours.

The key tip for your dry skin winter routine 

After exfoliating, it’s important to moisturise, especially in the colder months, to prevent the skin from becoming chapped, dry and sore. There are different types of moisturiser for different skin types, so again choose one which suits yours. But thicker isn't always better in winter.

Taking care of skin in the winter 


Tammy Richards, a skin and health specialist at Pure Optical, adds: "A common misstep that I frequently witness is people drenching the skin in thick moisturiser as winter approaches. Just because a cream is thick, doesn't mean it will combat dryness. Reach for products that contain hyaluronic acid, a substance that can hold 1000 times its weight in water and is great for retaining moisture in the skin."

Cut down on long, hot baths and showers

Winter skin dryness is a real problem that so many of us struggle with. We know it gets chilly in the winter and sometimes there’s nothing better than a long, hot bath or shower to take the feeling of impending frostbite away, but it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Yes, really. Sorry.

An excess of hot water coming into contact with your skin can strip it of important oils, so where possible use cool or lukewarm water when washing your hands and face and save the hotter water for when you really feel like you need it. If you're someone who really can't forego your hot baths and showers though, try adding oils to your bath or use oil-based shower products to retain as much moisture as possible.

Invest in a humidifier 

Taking care of skin in the winter can be hard, but investing in a humidifier could make this a little bit easier.

During the winter, the air becomes drier and lacks the moisture that keeps our skin soft and supple. So, to maximise the amount of water and moisture in the air around you, it could be worth investing in a humidifier for your home and placing it in a room that you spend a lot of time in, like your bedroom.

Richards says: "A humidifier that emits water vapour or steam will add moisture to the air and work to curb dry skin. You should consider one of these if you're working from home and are likely to sit with the heating on all day."

Besides keeping the skin moisturised, humidifiers can also help ease symptoms of a cold or other respiratory conditions. However, it’s important to keep your humidifier clean, because if not, they can breed mold or bacteria and transmit this into the air around you.

Wear SPF (yes, even in winter) 

This is a rule that applies throughout the entire year and just because it’s not hot or sunny outside in the winter doesn’t mean you can skip on the SPF. The sun is powerful all year round, even through cloud, so it’s key to use at least an SPF 30+ on exposed skin before going outside. Without it, your skin will be more exposed to the sun’s UV rays which dry out the skin, leading to problems such as sunburn and signs of early ageing. But beyond helping keep the skin moisturised, SPFs have a number of other benefits including keeping your complexion even, reducing signs of premature ageing, and even reducing the risk of cancer. 

Put the right foods in your body

Besides paying attention to what’s in the air and environment around you, it’s also important to take note of what you’re putting inside your body when it comes to your skin this winter. There’s a direct connection between your gut and your skin health, so experts recommend increasing your daily intake of healthy fats to help with dry skin. Foods you can incorporate into your diet for this purpose include things like walnuts, olive oil, and avocados.

You can also take advantage of ingestible skin supplements like The Glow Booster - which provide you with skin boosting ingredients from the inside out to make sure you're getting that glow on point from all angles.

In the meantime, you may want to cut down on things like alcohol and caffeine; as diuretics, these will cause dehydration. "Drinking caffeinated tea, coffee and alcohol can all dehydrate the body and this will have an impact on your skin, so keep drinking water," Patel says. "If you can't bear drinking cold drinks in the winter, try hot water with decaffeinated herbal tea bags instead."

By combining these steps you'll be on your way to glowing winter skin in no time. Tried any of these tips? Let us know in the comments below how you got on, we’d love to hear from you!

Product Spotlight

Need Expert Advice?

Other Insights

Gut Health Tests
Let's talk about gut health tests – you know, those trendy kits that promise to analyze the bacteria in your gut and give you ALL the answers. Seems like everywhere you turn these days, someone's pushing them on you, asking you to mail off your poo for a pricey test. I teamed up with one of Innermost's resident nutritionists, Sophie Gastman, to dig into the truth behind these tests First things first, what are gut health tests? Essentially, they’re marketed as a way to assess the balance of bacteria in your gut. All you have to do is collect a stool sample, ship it off, and wait for your results to roll in. Companies who offer these tests will most likely offer to sell you a ‘'personalised’' probiotic or prebiotic based on your results, along with some ‘'personalised'’ (but what definitely looks like generic) dietary and lifestyle recommendations. It all sounds simple enough, but here's where things get murky. Sophie has been looking into the validity of these tests, and she’s a bit skeptical.  "HERE'S WHY" Accuracy: These tests only give you a snapshot of your gut microbiome at one point in time. Your gut bacteria can change in as little as 24 hours based on what you eat and how you live, so by the time you get your results, they might already be outdated. Plus, different methods to study the same samples can also give wildly different results. So, if you sent your sample off to two different companies, one might say you have a lot of one type of bacteria, while the other says it’s barely there. Lack of Evidence: Despite years of research, we're still in the dark about which gut microbes are linked to specific health outcomes. So, any test claiming to have all the answers is just too good to be true. For example, scientific studies suggest that knowing what’s in your gut might not actually help with understanding or treating diseases like IBS. Lack of Actionable Insights: Even if these tests could accurately assess your gut, the recommendations they provide are often based on shaky science. Plus, they're so complex that even the experts struggle to make sense of them. Lack of Knowledge: Let's face it, most of us aren't microbiologists. So when these tests dump a ton of complicated info in our laps, it's more likely to leave us scratching our heads than feeling empowered. To make matters worse, these tests can cost a lot of money. We think rather than blowing your hard-earned cash on a gut health test, why not focus on some tried-and-true strategies to support your gut? Cue Sophie with her top six tips to better gut health Diet: Fill your plate with a rainbow of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes to keep your gut happy. Aim for 30 plant points a week (a point for every new plant you eat) - this number seems to be the sweet spot for making the most difference to your gut health. Chill: Stress can wreak havoc on your gut, so find ways to unwind, whether it's through meditation, exercise, or just shooting the breeze with a friend. Hydrate: Keep the water flowing to keep things moving smoothly in your digestive system. Sleep: A good night's sleep does wonders for your gut, so aim for 7-9 hours of shut-eye each night. Ferment: Add some fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut to your diet for a boost of gut-friendly probiotics. Supplement: Innermost's The Digest Capsules contain prebiotics and probiotics to keep your gut bacteria thriving, along with digestive enzymes and ginger. Combine them with all the points mentioned above to help your gut bacteria thrive. So there you have it – supporting your gut health doesn't have to be complicated or break the bank. Just focus on the basics and make some small lifestyle tweaks, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthier gut for a fraction of the price, and without the need to mail your poo off to some complete stranger. Read more
The Real Deal on Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
Imagine a gadget that gives you real-time insights into how your body reacts to every meal, promising to boost your athletic performance and improve your eating habits. Sounds amazing, right? But is there enough scientific research to back these claims? I recently sat down with one of Innermost's resident nutritionists, Isabelle Spellissy, to cut through the hype and see what CGMs are really all about and what they’ve actually been proven to achieve.  "What Are CGMs?" Continuous Glucose Monitors track your blood sugar levels around the clock. They use a small sensor typically attached to your arm, and allow you to check your glucose levels on your phone. This tech provides info on how your glucose levels fluctuate based on what you eat, your exercise routines, stress, and sleep patterns.For diabetics, CGMs are a game-changer, helping them maintain their glucose levels within a target range and improving their health outcomes. But now, manufacturers are marketing CGMs to everyone, not just diabetics, with promises of optimising blood sugar for peak physical and mental performance. This trend, pushed by personalised nutrition companies, has sparked a surge in interest from non-diabetics who are eager to try them out. "The Promises of CGMs" For those without diabetes, CGMs are touted with several shiny benefits, all aimed at boosting health, wellness, and performance: Metabolic Health Monitoring: Get a grip on how food, exercise, and lifestyle choices impact your glucose levels. Nutritional Guidance: See how different foods affect you, helping you choose meals that keep your blood sugar stable. Stress and Sleep Insights: Understand how stress and sleep affect your glucose levels, helping you manage both better. Early Detection of Insulin Sensitivity Issues: Spot early signs of insulin resistance or prediabetes, giving you a chance to make changes before it’s too late. "The Reality Check" While CGMs sound amazing, there are some serious caveats: Cost: These devices aren’t cheap, and if you’re not diabetic, insurance probably won’t cover them. Lack of Clinical Guidelines: No clear or established guidelines exist for non-diabetics using CGMs, which can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Psychological Impact: Constant monitoring can make you anxious and might lead to obsessive behaviors and excessive self-monitoring. Overemphasis on Glucose Levels: Fixating on glucose can distract from other important health factors like overall nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being. Potential for Misuse: Misreading the data can lead to unhealthy eating habits or extreme diets based on short-term glucose responses. Limited Proven Benefits: The clinical benefits of CGMs are still being studied, with research currently indicating that there isn’t enough evidence to support significant health benefits.  "What Can You Do?" Instead of parting with your hard earned cash and jumping on the CGM bandwagon, here are some proven alternative strategies to boost your health: Dietary Modifications: Eat whole, nutrient-rich foods. Balance your meals with carbs, proteins, and fats to maintain steady energy levels. Meal Routine and Portion Control: Stick to a meal schedule and watch your portion sizes to avoid energy crashes. Keep Tracking: Use a food journal or app to track what you eat and how it affects you. This can help to make informed choices about your food intake and adjust as needed. Regular Exercise: Mix in cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises to improve your fitness and mood. Gut Health: Eat fiber-rich and fermented foods to support your gut. Consider prebiotics and probiotics for an extra boost. Feel free to check out The Digest Capsules. Hydration: Drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is essential for overall health, energy levels, cognitive function, and athletic performance. We’ve got something coming soon that could help with that. Watch this space. By focusing on these holistic lifestyle changes, you can enhance your diet, performance, gut health, mood, and stress levels without needing a CGM. To wrap it up, the buzz around CGMs for non-diabetics is growing, and we might see more benefits and guidelines with further research. But for now, if you’re living a healthy lifestyle, you probably don’t need one of these gadgets. Some people are excited about their potential, but it’s best to approach CGMs cautiously and consult healthcare professionals to make sure you’re using them safely and effectively. Stay smart and keep it simple. References: Beck, R. W., Riddlesworth, T., Ruedy, K., Ahmann, A., Haller, S., Kruger, D. F., ... & Bergenstal, R. M. (2017). Continuous glucose monitoring versus usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving multiple daily insulin injections: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 167(6), 365-374. Basu, A., Dube, S., & Basu, R. (2019). Continuous glucose monitoring: a powerful tool for the non-diabetic population. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 16(11), 903-913. Pettus, J. H., Edelman, S. V., & Price, D. A. (2020). How Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Use Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data and Make Insulin Dosing Decisions. Endocrine Practice, 26(6), 625-630. Read more